WHP-TV CBS Channel 21News in Pennsylvania, reported a story on Jerry Sandusky – the former Penn State University assistant football coach currently charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse in a Grand Jury Presentment  – failed a background check for a volunteer football coaching position at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania in 2010 after he did not disclose that he was under investigation for child abuse at a high school in another county in the state.

CBS 21 News reports that the accusations at the high school arose after a student’s mother reported that her son was sexually assaulted by Sandusky, who was working as a volunteer football coach, the same job that he applied for at
Juniata College, and that the college subsequently wrote in a rejection letter to Sandusky: “You failed to include this information on the background verification form that you filled out at the time of your interview.” After being denied the position, CBS 21 News reports Juniata College informed the football coach at the time Sandusky could not be associated with the school’s football program.

According to the 23-page Grand Jury Presentment, Sandusky “founded The Second Mile, a charity initially devoted to helping troubled young boys. It was within The Second Mile program that Sandusky found his victims.” Later on Page 1, the Grand Jury Presentment stated that through the charity, “Sandusky had access to hundreds of boys, many of whom were vulnerable due to their social situations.”  These situations emphasize the need for volunteer organizations to protect those whom they serve and be diligent in requiring background checks of their volunteer s and staff.  You must protect the people put in vulnerable positions.  For more information visit backgroundchecksforvolunteers.com. True Hire has designed a background check program that will fit your organization’s needs. Please call us for more information at 1-800-262-7301.